KILLEARN COMMUNITY COUNCIL

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 19 February 2025

 

Members present        Elizabeth Jones (chair), Fiona Rennie, Andrew Donaldson,  Hilary McGregor, Michael Bowdidge, Heidi Bryce

How to contact us       Go to www.killearncc.org.uk and click on the contact button.

 

Chair - Liz Jones - noted congratulations on behalf of KCC to Councillor Gerry McGarvey who has been appointed as leader of Stirling Council.

 

CC1499 - MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 18 DECEMBER ‘24 & 15 JANUARY ‘25  Both sets of minutes were approved by Andrew Donaldson and Fiona Rennie. 

 

CC1500 – MATTERS ARISING

No matters of note.

 

CC1501 – POLICE MATTERS

Matt McCammon from Police Scotland sent his apologies. Fiona gave the following Police Report on items relevant to Killearn:

 

• Road Traffic

Enquiries are ongoing to trace the driver of a red Renault which collided with another vehicle, causing damage to both vehicles, and left the scene without exchanging details or reporting the matter.

 

• Disturbance (8th February)

Update from Police - over the past 2 days I have been in and around the streets where the incidents have occurred.  I have chapped the doors of residents within these streets, who perhaps have witnessed the incidents and offered reassurance to them.

 

The full police report is available on KCC website www.killearncc.org.uk

 

CC1502 – KCFC UPDATE

Graeme Fraser sent his apologies, no KFCF report this month. 

 

Fiona Rennie notified all those in attendance of Let's Dance - a national campaign to inspire everyone in the UK to embrace dance as a way to improve their health, connect with others, and have fun - there will be a ‘Let’s Dance’ event in Killearn Village Hall on Sun. 2nd March from 2pm - 4pm - as part of the Warm Space activities that afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CC1503 – PLANNING AND LOCAL PLACE PLAN

Tasha Houchin (KCC Planning Consultant) presented the following update:

 

Valid Planning Applications Received

○ 25/00011/FUL Little Moss Drumbeg Road Killearn G63 9LJ -

Alterations to existing roof of barn to allow for new upper floor office space

 

○ 25/00050/FUL Land And Buildings At Former Hall Main Street Killearn -  Renewal of planning permission 21/01049/FUL for 2no. Dwellinghouses under Regulation 11 of the Development Management Procedure

(Scotland) Regulations 2013 

Noted that this is just to keep the planning permission from expiring, it is a renewal of a renewal; first approved in 1998 and renewed in 2021.

*Paul Henke to confirm how many times planning permission can be renewed. 

 

○ 24/00627/FUL Claylands Balfron G63 0RR - 

The project involves the development of the H2OPE Nutrient Recovery System on the existing Strathendrick Biogas site which is owned by a private farmer. The H2OPE system operates by combining digestate waste from the existing agricultural processes with spent grains. This proposal is to support the existing onsite agricultural processes and to create a more sustainable use for the onsite waste. Therefore, the new equipment is essentially an extension to the existing large digester drums.

 

○ 24/00708/NAG Claylands Balfron G63 0RR - 

Conversion of agricultural building to farm employee accommodation

 

○ 25/00065/NAG Land At Drumore Wood Gartness Road Killearn - Erection of forestry building

A member of the public raised concerns over why such a large building (30ft x 45ft) is required at this point. 

 

David Young confirmed that not only is the size appropriate for a NAG but the building is required to save machinery having to be taken and stored back at the main farm. 

 

○ 24/00787/LAW (certificate of lawfulness) 6 Station Road Killearn G63 9NS - To confirm that a commencement had been made on Planning Permission W87/956 in regards extension to the dwellinghouse to form a living room on the ground floor and three bedrooms and bathroom on the upper floor

It was explained that an approved planning stays live once work has commenced, this application is to demonstrate that work had started in relation to the approved planning from 1987. It was noted that the planning application for the same work was applied for in summer last year (2024) and was then withdrawn.

 

 

 

 

 

● TPO (Tree Preservation Order)

This is a big part of the LPP (Local Place Plan), the objective is to do whatever we can as a community to retain and protect what we already have. Ingrid (Tree Protection Officer) has outlined that Killearn is first to be reviewed when resource becomes available.

 

TPO covers individual or groups of trees as well as woodland (but not ancient woodland as this is already covered through a different planning policy). 

 

When resource is available, Ingrid or her team will do an extensive survey of all the mature trees in the village - plotting them all on a map and then for any trees being considered, doing a TEMPO assessment (Tree Evaluation Method For Preservation Orders) which is a point scoring system covering 4x points:  

• Condition & suitability
• Remaining longevity (in years) & suitability
• Relative public visibility & suitability
• Other factors

Note that there may be circular tags on particular trees if a recent survey has taken place but there is no official visible notification on protected trees. 

 

Killearn Natural History Project (Nick Hawkins) gathered feedback and provided a document of why they think a larger tree protection area is needed in Killearn and the wider environment around the village. Local nature conservation sites are being proposed to Stirling Council but awaiting feedback.

 

Killearn Archive Group have previously undertaken a survey with the Stirling Council archeologist and provided a tree inventory and map. 

 

All of this information will be passed to the TPO. A lot of the results echo the comments made in the Local Place Plan 

 

● Oak Tree at 41 Station Road

A tree protection order  is now in place on the final tree. Sharon Bowness - a local resident outlined that there has been no progress on the enforcement enquiry and that there is still waste soil surrounding the tree. Chair Liz Jones outlined that KCC have raised this with Sharon Marklow (Service Manager for Planning & Building Standards at Stirling Council) who needs to speak to the enforcement officer and will report back in due course. KCC will continue to pursue this.

 

Cllr Paul Henke suggested emailing him directly as councillors have a set response time of 5 days. 

 

● Oak Tree in the park 

Consultant attended the site and carried out a survey. Findings were not extensively decayed as thought.  Limited reduction works required. Works will have to be sourced to three different contractors to tender for works. The Tree Officer, Adrian has requested that the fence remains in place in the meantime.

 

It was noted that most of the fallen branches had been removed and much of the site cleared - a discussion followed questioning whether or not it was applicable to allow local residents to remove the timbers.  Fiona to check with Stirling Council on the timeline for repair and trimming of the tree

● Flying Fox in the park

An assessment was completed of the damaged Flying Fox but following this another branch from the Oak Tree came down - KCC are awaiting an update but it is assumed that until the tree is stable, the Flying Fox will remain unusable for safety reasons. 

 

● Local Place Plan

The second survey is now closed and a draft document is being put together .  The first draft is likely to be circulated late spring/early summer, final date for submission is 1st October 2025. There will be a period of active consultation with the community to get input to the draft and an opportunity for local residents to engage in discussions online and in person.is will be presented back to the community for feedback before it is submitted.

 

A request for photographs of the area was raised as this would be helpful to include alongside the written response. 

 

There is a page on the KCC website for all LPP updates https://www.killearncc.org.uk/lpp.html and it was noted that there have been various methods used to try and obtain as many responses to the LPP survey as possible from a banner on the wall at the Village Hall, flyers in the Courier to online surveys, paper copies were handed out at the CoOp and there was an event in the village hall - although this was not well attended. 

 

● Wild Weekend

The Natural Heritage Group (part of KCFC) will be hosting a ‘Wild Weekend’ of activities over the weekend 26th / 27th April - this will include activities, working groups and an evening film show.  

 

CC1504 – ROADS AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE REPORT

Calum Mclean sent his apologies. Fiona Rennie shared the following updates:

• New footpath on Station Road - the drawings didn't show street lighting however it is confirmed that lighting is being installed.

 

A number of concerns/queries were raised by members of the public:

• The lack of white lines at the junction B809 & B834 - This is a busy junction and a tourist hot spot - making safety a big issue. Cllr Paul Henke recommended emailing him directly and he will raise this with Stirling Council.

 

• The Endrick Road street lights are not working - it was recommended to use the “Report It” function on the Stirling Council website for issues like this.

 

CC1505 – CORRESPONDENCE

Fiona reported on the following correspondence:

• Footpath Station RoadPublic Procession, Trossachs Tractor Run 2nd March 2025 Trossachs tractor run 2025 in memory of Bobby Gunn. All funds going to Strathcarron Hospice this year.

https://www.facebook.com/p/Trossachs-Tractor-run-61556106703689/

 

● New household waste collection schedule for Stirling residents

A more efficient waste collection schedule, which will lead to savings of £500,000 a year, is to be introduced by Stirling Council on Tuesday, 4 March. Currently, household waste is collected on a seven day per week shift pattern. This will be replaced by a four day, Tuesday-Friday collection schedule for all households, which will significantly reduce the cost of operating the service.

● Access to Primary School on Beech Drive

A query was raised around the school access on Beech Drive which has been adopted since Covid. There are currently no parking restrictions in the way of zig zag lines, and this is proving hazardous for children, parents and other road users on this part of the road. A request to raise this with Stirling Council as a potential cause of accidents, and lines applied as for the other school entrances. 

 

• SEPA - Dumping on private land on Ibert Rd.

There is no way to identify any responsible party as there is no identifying material within the waste. The waste types within the images provided show mainly soils, stones with small amounts of wood and plastic. There is likely to be minor or no impact to the environment from this unauthorised deposit. SEPA have been alerted and are working with the landlord to identify those responsible and to . 

 

● Display / Advertising Boards

Signage must have permission or the landowners approval. Any concerns should be directed through Stirling Council enforcement. 

 

CC1506 – QUESTION TIME

● Co-op Flowers and Food Waste

Any bunches of flowers that are over their sell by date are composted. Peter and Jenny Wilks regularly collect all of the “out of date” flowers from the Co-op and give them to people who may benefit - Peter has opened this up to the community and is happy to take suggestions if there are people in the village who may be ill or need cheering up. 

 

General food waste from the Co-op is burned. Peter drew everyone’s attention to the phone box in Balfron that is well used and appreciated. It was suggested that Killearn create something similar and the Killearn Co-op are keen to collaborate and support the initiative.  

 

Suggestions for where this could be are welcomed. Noted that the phone box is still owned by  BT - although there have been previous attempts through KCC to adopt it - thanks also noted to Glenda and Kathleen who work very hard to keep the phonebox looking nice (repainting, flower boxes etc) * Fiona Rennie will reach out for an update. 

 

● Storm Eowyn Telephone Lines

The loss of power and mobile phone signal caused concern in the village and opened up queries around the “Resilience Plan” - Information to be shared around what this looks like and ensuring it contains a plan for when all communication methods are down.

 

It was outlined that other villages have street groups and pictures that can be put into the window of homes that are in need of support. 

 

● Stored Wheelchair for Community Use 

It was discussed that there is not a wheelchair in the Village Hall - currently the Hall borrows a wheelchair from the church should it be required. 

 

If anyone is willing to donate a wheelchair to the Village Hall that would be much appreciated, but there are no plans to purchase one. 

 

CC1507 – COUNCILLOR’S REPORT

Cllr Paul Henke had to leave the meeting early but is happy to receive questions via email

(or at his home now that he has a new coffee machine!)

 

CC1508 – TREASURER’S REPORT

Andrew Donaldson presented the following report:

 

+ £300                 Killearn Trust Contribution to the winter lighting

• £912.10 Winter lighting payment
• £66 £40 secretarial expenses and £22 Hall hire 

 

£605.44              Current balance of funds   

 

CC1509 – ANY OTHER BUSINESS

● Sustainability Forum, Frank Deas

Within KCFC, Frank Deas leads Sustainable Killearn - an initiative to support sustainable living within the village. 

 

Climate Action Hub is a collaboration of neighbouring communities that was set up over 2 years ago. It allows for better information sharing, learnings and ultimately pooling of resources across the various villages. 

 

The South West Stirling Climate Action Network has been set up as a community organisation and is registered as a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) and with with OSCR (The Scottish Charity Regulator) 

The organisation is primarily looking to get local community development trusts and councils to become members to help to promote and raise awareness of environmental sustainability, helping to mitigate the impacts of climate change. Individuals are also able to join as members 

 

One current project is promoting the retrofitting of homes - South West Stirling Climate Action Network have secured the support of a group of Masters students from the University of Strathclyde to assist in understanding how residents would like to see this project develop. The survey is open to residents across Killearn, Aberfoyle, Strathblane, Balfron, Buchylvie and Drymen and is aimed at seeing how retrofitting is understood and to help get better information to people. 

 

Ultimately the objective is to create a more unified voice to be more effective.

 

Chair Liz Jones confirmed that KCC would like to confirm their support as a member. 

 

CC1510 – DATE AND VENUE OF NEXT MEETING 

The next KCC meeting will be held at 8.00 pm on Wed. 19th March 2025 in the Garden Room at the Village Hall. 

 

The meeting ended at 9.39 pm.